Exam 9: Improving Communication Climates

The coach told the soccer team they needed to stay at practice until they learned their new play. However, the co-captain who had gotten a ride with the captain stated to the captain, "I'm done for the day. I don't care if you want to stay, but I'm leaving." The captain answers, "Find another ride. I'm staying until the moves are perfected." Which negative reciprocal communication pattern are they using?

When two parties are working through their difficulties, and their conflict is diminishing, this is referred to as a de-escalatory conflict spiral.

Which type of communication is a message that expresses caring or respect for another person?

Which term refers to behaviour by another that is perceived as attacking an individual's presenting image?

Stonewalling is an example of an impervious response.

What term refers to disconfirming responses loaded with clichés and other statements that never truly respond to the speaker?

Describe an important relationship in which you are involved in terms of a positive or negative "spiral" of behaviour. Indicate how certain behaviours over the past six months (or any defined segment of time) have tended to lead to similar behaviours in response. Comment on the future direction of your spiral. Make sure to include reference to escalatory or de-escalatory spirals in times of conflict.

What does the use of "you" language indicate?

What is the most effective way to respond when other people start to criticize you?

You say to your roommate, "I have an exam tomorrow. I would like to figure out a way for you to enjoy your music while I study." Which Gibb's category is this an example of?

Helena, a police officer, says to her partner, "Beth, I'm upset about how we divide the reporting at the end of our shift." Beth retorts, "Speaking of reporting, our unit secretary brought in great cookies today." What type of disconfirming response is Beth's response?

Provisional statements often include words like "perhaps" and "from my perspective."

"So you object to the language I used in writing the paper. Was my language too formal?" This is an example of paraphrasing when responding to a critic.

Asking if anything else is bothering your critic won't help you cope with criticism because it encourages more defensiveness.

Describe two face-threatening acts that have been directed at you. Explain why each was threatening to you and describe your defensive behaviour in response.

When you respond non-defensively to criticism, you can agree with the truth of what the critic is saying.

Descriptive statements avoid telling the other persons what they have done that you don't like.

With her father's help, Martha is baking a birthday cake for her mother. Marta states, "Dad, I wish you were a bit more creative." Her father replies, "Well, I wish you weren't so messy." Which negative reciprocal communication pattern are they using?

Jessie lets his employees do whatever they want. This is an example of authoritarian leadership.

Which statement is an example of a request of others?